Black Thursday

On 16 July 1942, Paul, a young student on the Left Bank, hears that the authorities are rounding up Jewish residents for deportation. He is moved to act against the evil of the occupation and decides to try to save someone. The sense of danger pervades the city as police move through the streets.

Paul goes to the Jewish quarter on the Right Bank to find someone to help. He scans the crowded streets as plainclothes police and patrols round up residents. He hopes to spot someone who might welcome rescue.

French police are there in force, herding Jewish people out of apartments and onto commandeered buses. They already have the names and addresses and can easily recognize Jews by the compulsory yellow star. The atmosphere is tense and dangerous.

Paul approaches several individuals, but most do not understand the danger they face or mistrust his intentions. He speaks with a young woman named Jeanne and tries to determine if she would accept his help. The risk of intervention by authorities is ever-present.

In a shop, the shopkeeper informs Jeanne that her mother and sister have just been taken away and discreetly cuts the yellow star from her jacket. Jeanne hesitates, then agrees to let Paul escort her to relatives. The scene underscores how quickly families during the roundup can be scattered.

Paul and Jeanne head toward the apartment of Jeanne's relatives. They are ordered to pack their bags, and when the police arrive to take them away, the relatives hide Paul and Jeanne. The tension tightens as the danger of capture becomes immediate.

Jeanne remains wary of Paul and is unsure that going to his room on the Left Bank is a solution. Getting out of the Jewish quarter proves difficult due to identity checks. Their relationship strains under the pressure of fear.

Plainclothes police continue checking identities in the streets, making escape hard. Paul tries not to draw attention as he and Jeanne attempt to slip away. The couple's cooperation is strained, reflecting fear and mistrust.

Paul uses a brief physical ruse, getting into a clinch with Jeanne to divert attention from themselves. The distraction allows them to move toward safety while avoiding arrest. It highlights the extreme measures people took to survive.

They duck into a café used by prostitutes and their pimps. A plainclothes officer becomes interested in Jeanne, but a protective pimp knocks him down and wishes the pair well as they flee. The narrow escape reinforces how precarious their situation remains.

In the empty courtyard of the Louvre, Paul explains his motives to Jeanne and his hope for a better life they could share. He articulates a dream of freedom and normalcy amid the occupation. The moment deepens their connection even as danger closes in.

Halfway across the bridge toward the Left Bank, Jeanne decides she cannot go further with him. The choice marks a turning point in their relationship and in the rescue attempt. The risk and uncertainty of their future linger.

With Jeanne's decision, they part ways, leaving Paul hopeful yet uncertain about what fate awaits them. The story underscores the brutal reality of occupied Paris and the fragile nature of rescue efforts. The final image is of separation rather than salvation.